What happens after the Election?

On Sunday 7 June, Islanders will head to the polls to elect the Members of the next States Assembly. Amongst these successful candidates will be the next Chief Minister, Ministers and Assistant Ministers, and the members of Scrutiny Panels. All these positions will be filled in the weeks after the election. So how and when does this happen?

Sunday 7 June: Election Day

Voters across the Island will head to their polling stations from 8am – 8pm on Sunday 7 June, electing 9 Senators, 28 Deputies and 12 Constables as States Members. These 49 seats will form the new States Assembly, the Island’s elected parliament.

Monday 8 June: Announcement of Election Results

Given the significant task of counting votes across the Island, it is possible that the full results will not be available until Monday 8 June. Polling stations in smaller constituencies and Parishes are likely to declare their results earlier. Election results will be published on the Vote.je website and social media channels as and when they are available.

Thursday 11 June: Candidates for Chief Minister

Any candidate who is successfully elected is eligible to be nominated for the role of Chief Minister, whether they are a Senator, Connétable or Deputy. Nominations for Chief Minister must be submitted to the Greffier of the States by no later than 5pm on Thursday 11 June. Candidates need to have the support of at least 6 other States Members and must submit a statement to the Greffier setting out their vision for a strategic policy and how they propose they will discharge their responsibilities if appointed as Chief Minister.

Friday 12 June: Swearing In

Newly elected States Members are sworn into their new roles in the Royal Court.

Friday 19 June: Election of Chief Minister designate

The new States Assembly will sit to appoint the new Chief Minister. The candidates that are seeking the role will each give a speech (up to 10 minutes) outlining their strategic vision and will then answer up to 1 hour of questions from other Members of the Assembly. If there is only one candidate, they will become Chief Minister designate once the questions are concluded. If there is more than one candidate, the Assembly chooses by recorded vote. While a candidate is speaking or being questioned, other candidates must withdraw from the Chamber to a place where they cannot hear proceedings.

In a scenario where there are more than two candidates seeking the role, and no candidate secures a majority in the first round, then a second voting round is held and the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. This process is repeated until a clear winner is found.

See: Standing Orders of the States of Jersey: Standing Order 116

Friday 26 June: Chief Minister designate proposes Ministerial nominations

Following their appointment, the Chief Minister designate has until 9.30am on Friday 26 June to deliver a declaration of their intended ministerial nominations - including the order in which they wish the States to vote on them - to the Greffier of the States. These nominations are who the Chief Minister designate would like to appoint to each Ministerial role from within the new States Assembly. The nomination list will be published on the States Assembly website.

Monday 29 June:

The Assembly sits to vote on the Chief Minister designate’s ministerial nominations. It is at this stage that other States Members can also be proposed for Ministerial roles. Candidates for each Ministerial position will then deliver a speech of up to 10 minutes on why they should be appointed to the role and answer up to 20 minutes of questions from the Assembly.

If, during the meeting to appoint Ministers, the States select a candidate who was not nominated by the Chief Minister designate, there will be the opportunity for the Chief Minister designate to make a new announcement during the meeting of the order in which they wish the States to vote on the remaining ministerial appointments. The Chief Minister designate can make changes to the nominations and order in which the Assembly considers the remaining appointments.

Once all the Ministers have been appointed, the Council of Ministers is formed, and the Chief Minister and all Ministers officially take up their position.

Following the appointment of Ministers, the Assembly will proceed to appoints Chairs of the Privileges and Procedures Committee, the Public Accounts Committee, the 5 Scrutiny Panels and the Planning Committee. In each case, nominations will be sought from Members on the floor of the Chambers. The candidates to every position will deliver a speech of up to 10 minutes on why they should be appointed to the role and answer up to 20 minutes of questions from the Assembly. If there is more than one candidate for any position, the Assembly chooses by recorded vote.

Tuesday 14 July: First ‘Standard’ Meeting

The first standard meeting starts on 14 July. This meeting will incorporate the appointment of Scrutiny Panel and Committee Members.  It will also include Questions Without Notice and any Oral Questions with notice that have been submitted. Any Propositions which were lodged in sufficient time to be dealt with on 14 July will also be debated, under Public Business.